The law regards scholar transport as a form of public transport for which an operating license is applicable, the EMPD stated.
In this regard, scholar transport refers to the transportation of a learner from home to school and back. It is imperative to place one’s child in a scholar transport that complies with the National Road Traffic Act of 93/96.
Those who transport children to school must have:
• A professional driving permit;
• An identity document indicating their name, ID number, kind of vehicle they are permitted to drive, and the name of the owner or holder of the operating licence;
• A first aid certificate;
• An advanced or defensive driving qualification.
“It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their children are placed in the correct and roadworthy transport with all the safety measures in place. It is also imperative for parents who do not use scholar transport to provide supervision for children who walk to schools,” the EMPD stated.
Guide for parents and children:
• Accompany the child to and from school;
• Ensure the child walks in groups or with older children;
• Prepare the child early for school to avoid the rush during peak hours (this helps the drivers not to rush or speed to get the child to school in time);
• Teach your children to obey the scholar patrol at school and to use the pedestrian crossing;
• Teach the child not to talk to strangers or get into any unknown vehicles;
• A child should always wait for the school transport at the designated stop;
• Children should avoid playing far away from the schoolyard when waiting for scholar transport.
